Healthcare workers face rising violence in UK and Spain

Healthcare workers are facing rising levels of violence and aggression in both the United Kingdom and Spain.

In Shropshire, England, security incidents at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) increased by more than 37% over the past year. The trust recorded 2,669 incidents during the 2025-26 period, averaging seven per day. Specific locations included the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford. While the total number of incidents rose, officials noted a decrease in cases involving moderate or severe harm, attributing this to improved staff expertise and security measures. The trust maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment and antisocial behavior, noting that many incidents involved patients with dementia or medication-related issues.

In Cádiz, Spain, medical professionals are reporting increasingly violent encounters driven by patient impatience. Recent incidents include a man threatening a doctor with knives in Puerto Real and a physical assault on an emergency department physician in Rota following a dispute over medication renewals. Medical unions and professional colleges, such as the Colegio de Médicos de Cádiz, have repeatedly denounced these behaviors, warning that such aggression is becoming normalized within society.